Sharpen Photos Smartly(From creativepro.com) What's the best time to sharpen your photos? And what's the best tool - Camera Raw, Photoshop's Smart Sharpen, or something else? These questions and more are answered in an excerpt from the upcoming book Photoshop CS2 RAW.

"Most every RAW file requires some degree of sharpening to counter the blurring that occurs automatically at some stage of image capture or image processing. But when do you apply the sharpening? In Adobe Camera Raw, or later, in Photoshop CS2? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. The fact is, there are compelling reasons to apply some sharpening to your RAW file using Camera Raw. There are also compelling reasons to turn sharpening off in Camera Raw, wait until your RAW file is open in Photoshop CS2, and then apply sharpening via the new Smart Sharpen filter or one of the many third-party sharpening tools. It really depends on what you want: optimal workflow or ultimate flexibility and user control. This article will help you help you take your sharpening skills to the next level so you can produce the best possible image."Read Sharpen Photos Smartly.

Digital Photography How-To: The Pros and Cons of Lens Flare(From creativepro.com) Lens flare - whether it's in the form of bright streaks, random polygons, or an overall washed-out look - is a hazard when you're shooting photos near a bright light source. Learn how to avoid it, and even how to exploit it to make stunning imagery, in this article by Sean T. McHugh of Cambridge in Colour.

From the intro: "Lens flare is created when non-image-forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides that depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. Lens flare can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact; however, some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it - or avoid it - in a way that best suits how you wish to portray the final image."

How To Remove Dust From A Digital SLRCreativepro.com is running another excellent article by Ben Long. In this one Ben tells you how to remove dust from your digital SLR, and how to avoid it in the first place.

From the intro: "If you've spent much time scanning film, you know that managing dust and scratches can be a hassle. You'd think that shooting digital would free you from this dusty chore, but not if you use a digital SLR. Because you can remove the lens, dust can worm its way inside the camera body, around the mirror, and stick to the sensor. Once there, the dust can show up in your images as dark specks or smudges.

"Some SLRs seem to be more prone to dust than others. I've heard speculation that it's because certain sensors require more of an electrical charge than others, which creates more static electricity on the sensor's surface, which attracts more dust. Other cameras take an offensive position: The Olympus Evolt E300, for example, automatically shakes its sensor every time you power up the camera in an effort to dislodge any dust or particulate matter that may have landed on the sensor surface."

Free Digital Photography Tutorials[From Jennifer Apple, via our Photoshop Blog] Who says you need to be a full time Photoshop devotee to develop some expertise? Run by Sean, who is pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge, the Cambridge in Colour site offers free techniques and tutorials pages that could be of service to amateurs and professionals alike.

After briefly explaining the difference between the 3D perception of the human eye and camera equipment, the techniques section explores the aspects of depth of field, dynamic range, and field of view that photographers need to be attentive to in order to produce the images they see. These pages also describe how the limitations of cameras and lenses can be influenced to the photographers advantage.

The tutorials section starts with a series of lessons on the "fundamentals" of photography. Beginning with color perception, these lessons provide a introductory understanding of bit depth, image types, digital sensors, image noise, sharpness, depth of field, histograms, color management, and camera raw files. The site also offers tutorials intended for more experienced digital artists.

On the whole these lessons address how specific tools in the Photoshop software can be applied to your artwork. So if you're ready to dig a little deeper into the realm of photo manipulation or you're looking for some peer advice, this may be the place for you.Canon SLR Tutorial Site - All About Digital CamerasCanon has published a great online guide for those who are new to digital SLR cameras called "Enjoy! Digital SLR Cameras - Discover The Real Joy Of Photography." This is a nice and easy intro to working with a digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera.

Divided into five sections that feature pictures and tutorials, the site offers an astoundingly complete guide to using digital SLRs, covering everything from the physical components of the camera to the principles of camera technology. You'll also find some great tips on composition. There's sure to be a little something here for everyone.

We decided to clear a path through by walking ahead a bit and mapping it out, and you can find a detailed table of contents to the site for you to use. Bon voyage!CreativePro.com is a great resource site for digital photographers. Lately they've been running a series of articles called Framed and Exposed that are written by Ben Long, an expert in the field of digital cameras and digital photography. Below you'll find links to some of his most recent articles at the CreativePro site.
If you would like to learn more about Camera Raw, see our special Camera Raw Page.

Balancing the Lens and Sensor EquationBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 Small lenses are casting a wide angle on digital photo market. Ben Long takes a look at the advancing technology and what Canon is up to with the EF-S 10-22mm lens.

Better Image Automation Through ScriptingBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, January 4, 2005 Managing your images can be a tedious time-consuming task. But learning how to harness the power of AppleScript and Image Events can make quick work of renaming, resizing, and rotating your images, along with other essential duties.

Rightly Writing CopyrightBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, December 21, 2004The Web makes it easy to let others see your images. It also makes it easy for others to steal your images or use them without permission. That's why smart photographers add digital watermarks to their images. Ben Long looks at the options.

What Else Film Photographers Already KnowBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, November 9, 2004After explaining traditional-camera concepts such as lens length and light metering, Ben Long delves into more fundamentals digital camera converts should know: exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and depth of field. Plus, do you know the right way to press the shutter button?

What Film Photographers Already KnowBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, October 26, 2004 Digital cameras have tossed many novices into the deep end of the photographic pool, with the result that learning how to shoot good pictures has been a sink-or-swim affair. Few have grounded their digital knowledge in traditional film basics, like lens length and light metering. It's time to catch up.

Digital Cameras, Raw Images, and Negative StandardsBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 With the announcement of the Digital Negative Specification, Adobe is attempting to standardize how digital cameras understand image data. Will this new imaging initiative take off with camera makers? And what does it mean for you?

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 6By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, September 28, 2004 This is it: The final installment of Ben Long's guide to selecting a digital camera model. We're down to the pivotal issue of image quality. Here's how to evaluate cameras for color, noise, and other image essentials.

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 5By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, September 14, 2004 Camera manufacturers are packing more innovative features into their digital models, such as video capture, voice annotation, and auto bracketing. What do these features do, and more importantly, do you need them? Ben Long looks at these features and more, including viewfinder types and shutter performance.

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 4By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, August 31, 2004 The essential features to consider when buying a digital camera have been covered in previous columns. Now it's time for bells and whistles. Options like adjustable ISOs, in-camera histograms, and panoramic exposures can make your digital photography experience more fulfilling.

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 3By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 When choosing a digital camera, cost, resolution, and exposure control are mandatory considerations. The last two essentials on your purchasing checklist are light metering and lens quality. Ben Long tells you what you need to know.

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 2By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, August 3, 2004 After considering cost and resolution, exposure control is the next big decision when purchasing a digital camera. How much manual control do you want? Is automatic white balance important? And does film speed matter in a film-less camera? Ben Long answers all.

Buying a Digital Camera, Part 1By Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, July 20, 2004 When buying a digital camera you're confronted with what seems like a gazillion choices -- and none of them obvious. In this first part of three columns, Ben Long spells what you need to know when purchasing a camera. First up: price and resolution.

Making Sense of Camera SensorsBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, July 6, 200The most important part of your digital camera -- its brains, heart, and soul -- very well maybe its image sensor. It's where all the magic happens and where all the mistakes are made. Ben Long explains.

It's Time to Can FilmBy Ben Long, creativepro.com contributing editor - Tuesday, June 22, 2004 Digital cameras are the choice of spontaneity-loving shutterbugs, but some photographers who demand more from their cameras aren't convinced. If you've long held the notion that "film is better," it's time to see the light. Ben Long explains why in his new digital photography column.

The Photoshop Blog offers the latest Photoshop and Digital Photography news and software updates, tips and tutorials, and random thoughts from graphic artist, digital photographer and Photoshop expert Jennifer Apple.The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital PhotographersThe Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital PhotographersScott Kelby takes The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital Photographers to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS2 techniques for digital photographers.

His new CS2 version is even bigger, even better, and exposes even more of the pros most closely guarded secrets, including a special chapter which shows, for the first time ever, step-by-step how to how to set-up Photoshop's color management.Available at Amazon.com (34% off).